Appropriations - Fiscal Year 2009
In an effort to ensure full funding of essential federal rural health programs, the NRHA is constantly monitoring the federal appropriations process. Here you will find the latest news, updates and supporting materials on the funding of federal rural health programs.
Please note, the federal fiscal year (FY) begins October 1st and ends September 30th. The year mentioned in the FY 2009 portion refers to the calendar year that the FY runs until. So, FY 2009 will take place from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009.
FY 2009 Appropriations Resources
- Click here to view the FY 2009 Appropriations Chart
- Click here to view the testimony of Paul Moore and the NRHA the to House Appropropriations Committee.
- Appropriations rural information specific to each state
FY 2009 Appropriations News
The appropriations process has now ended for Fiscal Year 2009. Despite a more drawn-out process than usual, rural health programs did see appreciable increases in funding. The NRHA appreciates Congress' show of commitment to the future of rural health and is looking forward to the FY 2010 process.
Omnibus appropriations bill signed into law, includes funding increases for critical rural health programs - March 11
President Obama signed into law H.R. 1105, $410 billion appropriations package that includes funding for critical rural health programs. The omnibus includes $53.9 million for rural outreach and network grants, $9.7 million for rural health research/policy, $9.2 million for state offices of rural health and $39.2 million for rural hospital flexibility grants. It also includes $2.2 billion for community health centers, $134.96 million for the National Health Service Corps and $32.5 million for area health education centers, as well as funding for other programs important to rural America. This adds up to a more than $10 million increase over the FY2008 funding levels for the rural health safety net programs alone. NRHA is thrilled to see such strong numbers in support of rural health and will begin now to look forward to the FY 2010 appropriations process.
The omnibus had previously passed the Senate on March 10 by a vote of 62-35 and it had passed the House of Representatives on February 25by a vote of 245-178. The nine fiscal appropriations bills included in the omnibus were funded by a continuing resolution at FY 2008 levels through March 6, when the CR was extended through midnight March 10 to accommodate further debate in the Senate.
Appropriations funded through continuing resolution until March 6, 2009 - September 27
The Senate passed the Continuing Resolution (CR), H.R. 2638 by a vote of 78-12. The House had previously passed the CR on September 24 by a vote of 370-58 and the President is expected to sign the bill. The bill includes full FY 2009 appropriations for military construction and the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security. The rest of the government will be funded at FY 2008 levels through March 6. The next Congress and Administration will have to finish the remaining nine FY 2009 appropriations bills, including the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill.
Senate Appropriations Committee approves numbers; House numbers now available - June 26
The Senate Appropriations Committee met today and approved the subcommittee's mark, or funding bill, from earlier in the week. This bill includes increases to Rural Outreach and Network Grants, the Rural Hospital Flexibility Grants, Rural Health Research and Policy, Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps. The funding bill now moves to the full Senate. Also included on our updated chart are numbers released by the House.
The NRHA advocated for such strong numbers for rural programs. It is uncertain at this time when Congress will act on these funding priorities.
View our updated chart of the rural health safety net programs.
Senate Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee marks up its FY 2009 spending bill - June 24
The Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee met today and marked up its FY 2009 spending bill. Like the House Subcommittee last week, they did not release a detailed list of programs. However, numbers have been trickling out, here are a couple highlights:
- Rural health programs - $143.3 million, 6.7 million over last year
- National Health Services Corps - $135 million, 12 million over last year
- Title VIII (nursing education) - $167.6 million, 11 million over last year
- Telehealth - $8 million, up from 6.7 million last year
- Community Health Centers - up $150 million from last year; House had up $100 million
The full Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday, June 26 at 2 p.m. The full House Appropriations Committee also is scheduled to consider its version of the bill on Thursday, at 10 a.m. More information on precise funding amounts should be released at that time.
House Labor-HHS-EducationSubcommittee marks up its FY 2009 spending bill - June 19
On June 19, the Labor, Health, Education Appropriations Subcommitte marked up its FY 2009 spending bill. According to a statement released by Chairman Obey, "For the rural health programs sought by the Congressional Rural Caucus, which the President proposed to cut by $118 million or 45 percent, the bill provides a $31 million increase over last year. These important programs support more than 1,200 small, at-risk hospitals, create health care networks for more than 775,000 rural residents in underserved communities and support rural health research centers and State rural health offices."
Read Chairman Obey's full statement.
The full committee is tentatively scheduled to consider the bill next Wednesday, June 25. However, the full committee postponed markups for several bills this week to complete work on the supplemental spending bill, which means the Labor-HHS markup may be delayed.
Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to approve its subcommittee allocations this afternoon. The Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee plans to mark up its version of the FY 2009 bill next week.
NRHA Testifies to House Appropriations Committee - March 13, 2008
On March 13, Paul Moore testified on behalf of the NRHA before the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related agencies.
Moore, NRHA president and rural community pharmacist, focused his testimony on the rural health safety net, a group of programs within the Department of Health and Human Services that strengthen and build upon our rural health delivery system. The rural health safety net includes Community Health Centers, Rural Health Outreach and Network Grants, State Offices of Rural Health, Rural Hospital Flexibility Grants and other programs that provide a much-needed investment in the future of rural health. Moore also discussed the importance of the Title VII and Title VIII programs in the Public Health Service Act, which supports health professionals and nursing education.
To read the full testimony, go to click here.
Rural Health Safety Net Funding Update – House and Senate Pass Budget Resolution and Opportunity to Take Action
On Thursday, March 13, both the House and Senate adopted budget resolution that sets the policy framework for spending money throughout the year. In addition, the resolution set the dollar amounts that the Appropriations Committee can spend on the different bills. For Health spending, which includes the rural health safety net, the Senate would increase the overall amount by $5.27 billion and the House increased the amount by $4.438 billion. This should provide enough money for programs that we monitor to see increases; however, it is unlikely that President will allow these funding increases.
The budget numbers will now go to the Appropriations Committees for them to actually set the funding numbers. It is therefore vital that you help us put pressure on the Appropriations Committees by asking your Representative and Senators to sign on to a letter asking for funding for the rural health safety net. Both the House Rural Health Care Coalition and the Senate Rural Health Caucus are sending a letter to the Appropriations Committee. Please contact your members today and ask for their support. You can do this by going to http://capwiz.com/nrha/issues/alert/?alertid=11124556.
President's FY 2009 Budget Request Devastating to Rural America
February 4th, President Bush sent his budget request for the Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Budget of the United States Government. Unsurprisingly but still disappointedly, for the 5th year in a row, the President requested devastating cuts for programs that help to keep rural America healthy. President Bush again eliminates successful programs like health professions training programs, Outreach and Network grants and the Flex program. In addition, President Bush would cut over $100 billion in Medicare and Medicaid payments over five years.
NRHA staff would like to make clear that the President’s budget request, while mandated annually, is largely a formality. Constitutionally, Congress decides how and what to spend money on and this Congress is unlikely to embrace the President’s numbers. However, some of the President’s proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid may be done regulatorily – the NRHA will be working with its partners in Congress and other associations to make sure this does not adversely impact rural America.
To view the updated appropriations chart, click here.
